Online Ordering for Aloha

[alohaakamai3]

Can anyone tell me any information about online ordering in Aloha? Does it work well? Is it just an add on module? Are there recurring fees? What version did it start with?

Any comments or opinions about it are welcome.

Thanks!

 

[RosemarysBaby]

Here's what I know on the topic as I'm in the process of having it implemented right now. We should be live in a week or 2.
1. Purchase Aloha Connect from dealer, $1000.
2. Find an Aloha vendor to implement, 3rd party involvement here is a necessity. I'm using Patron Path. $100 / month. Because US Foods has a relationship with them, US Foods is eating the cost for 1st year. I believe some vendors may also try for setup fee too. IDK, again US is paying all costs except Aloha Connect (module).

As for how well it works, don't know yet. I'm told that when customers go to your restaurant website they click a link for online ordering that will redirect to a site hosted by Patron Path. There, Patron Path has your entire menu written in their format with options and pull down boxes, etc. Payment can be credit card manditory or pay at store option. Order gets sent directly to kitchen printers. Open check automatically appears on cashiers terminal ready to be picked up by cashier.

I don't know about version info, I'm 6.4.29. When I get it finally working I'll throw a quick review out here.

 

[alohaakamai3]

Thanks RMB, I appreciate the detailed feedback. One of our stores asked about it I just wanted to give them a rundown. Is Patron Path integrating it with your website as well, or was that a different 3rd party person.

 

[TobeThor]

How does website (Patron Path) get updated when you make menu changes? When you change your menu items/prices in Aloha; will the website automatically change as well? (that would be great feature)

Also wondering; if Patron Path is handling the credit card payment who pays the processing fees? If Patron Path pays the credit card processing fees; do they in turn mark it up and charge the restaurant?

If a customer disputes a credit card charge who do they call; the restaurant or Patron Path?

Love the on-line ordering but a little confused about how all the money handling is approached in a fair manner for all parties involved.

 

[RosemarysBaby]

Sorry, been MIA. All good questions, don't have all answers yet but you can bet I will be asking the same.

First, my website is pretty dated, 1998 circa, So I had Patronpath build a new one, gratis. On the site is a link to online ordering. That link can easily be dropped into any site.

Credit card processing I imagine would be my processor with a gateway. Again, will clarify in a couple of days.

As for site updates, I know they use Joomla type programming where end user can easily manage content. Don't know if store web site and online data base are linked to update automatically. All great questions. I'll get answers and more.

Also, they are suppossed to develop mobile app too.

 

[TobeThor]

Thanks RosemarysBaby, this is great topic. Lots of good stuff. The mobile app would be awesome as I feel a lot of customers would use it. The credit card transaction though is confusing. In these days of PCI rules & regs, I would think any company that touches a CC trans wants to collect a fee for the potential liability they risk. Lets face it, if you had a data breach, Patron Path will be involved to some degree (not that its fair or they are responsible, just that any lawyer will insist). Thus my ? about who pays the initial CC fees and what does the restaurant pay in the end. It's my understanding that CC trans w/o a CC card present incur a higher CC fee structure to begin with. The on-line database synching for menu changes would also be a huge benefit. I hate double entry.

Also;
1. How does cashier know it's been paid for or not?
2. For IRS 8027 tip rules, which employee gets the T/O sales?
3. If the T/O order has to be changed at the POS (IE:voids), does that mean you have to open up Mgr privledges to the Cashier?
4. How does kitchen know the order is for T/O vs. dining room?
5. How will you know if a T/O order is placed BUT never prints to the kitchen printer?
6. Can I assume you determined T/O sales volume will cover costs of PP after US foods stops paying the $100 monthly. IE: 10% margin after overhead means you'll need to generate $1K in T/O sales (via website) per month to hit the break even point ($100)?

Sorry so many ?'s but this is pretty cool stuff to learn about. But; pioneers always get a lot of ?'s from us folks standing around the pool wondering what the water temp is before we jump in. Thanks for the enlightenment.

 

[RosemarysBaby]

Just got off the phone and finished remote session with tech from PatronPath, great knowlegible tech too. He went through about 10 areas in Aloha Manager to set up the virtual terminal, etc. Tech said that Credit Cards are handled by my current processor and PP setting up a template to transmit CC info (number and exp. date) to our Aloha terminal directly in the background. CC rates are for the key rate and not swipe. Says it's all compliant. Restaurant has the same risk as any keyed card. You can also choose not to accept CC on online ordering. Tech says it's about 60/40 (60 use CC) when polling online restuarants.
To answer:
1. Order will appear on cashiers terminal to be picked up like a transfer. Then look at the tab and either a balance will show zero or an amount due.
2. A new order mode is created called ONLINE and tippable sales is not checked.
3. I wouldn't think that would happen too often so I would get a manger as needed. After all, it's the customer placing the order and they're always right!
4. Ticket prints via Order Mode, think <<< ONLINE ORDER >>> on the chit.
5. Can't answer this one yet. Should be no different than any in house scenario, eventually someone will be screaming for food.
6. I figure US Foods will be stuck for a long time to come with this one. I only need to give them $1000 week in ordering. I say only because we budget about $15k per week for food. Lots of wiggle room. Many little ventures incur costs before getting profitable. I think this one might make money right away. If I can free up my day cashier just a little I know I can benefit. On nights where I have 2 cashiers, should be able to free up some time on at least one. IDK what add on business we can get, time will tell.

When we go live I'll mention it here, see how it goes.

 

[neotope]

RosemarysBaby, just curious - why did you decide to go with Patronpath over Aloha's own in house online ordering?

The Aloha product has a $495 initial database setup, $250 location setup and $85 monthly charge per location. Generally I prefer to go with in house solutions over third party unless the third party is cheaper or has more functionality.

 

[RosemarysBaby]

If you Google "Aloha Online web ordering" first hit will be abacus-pos at their online ordering information page. It all refers to third party vendors. On Nov. 1, 2011 I emailed abacus about online and was told there is "only" third party solutions to this.

I would absolutely love to know where I or anyone else can get an Aloha inhouse solution because that is exactly what I wanted. My dealer, self proclaimed to be the largest on the planet, has no idea about this.

Are you sure this is a Radiant product and not a dealer with a third pary relationship? I agree, in house I would prefer, maybe. Aloha, while great at doing a reliable POS has not had the same success with their add-ons over the years. Web ordering may be one of those things best left to a smaller astute provider.

 

[neotope]

As far as I know Radiant Aloha Online Ordering is an in house solution, perhaps they bought it from someone else back in the day. We got information on the program from our Radiant rep, resellers don't have anything to do with the program. Which seems to be a negative point to resellers which is maybe why you were recommended another solution.

Check out

https://caferio.alohaorderonline.com/

for an example website using the product.

Because of the level of interaction an online ordering module has I would always worry that a third party solution would be prone to problems.

 

[bradk81]

I've had great luck with Kudzu, they're a 3rd party product but I believe they interface to Aloha.

 

[gunstar01]

Aloha Online, or "AO" as it's known integrates into the POS and uses Aloha TakeOut and/or Delivery. There is no third party interface, it reads off your existing Aloha data. Works great, when you change your menu, it updates your online menu as well.